Sweet cherry tree -- `PC 7222-1`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of self-fertile sweet cherry, Prunus avium, tree which bears medium to large 9.1-9.5 grams in weight firm mahogany-red colored fruits. Its exceptional, high quality, attractive fruits ripen four to five days ahead of the commercially grown Bing variety, which it is compared to herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new variety of sweet cherry treewhich bears medium to large, firm, attractive fruits of excellentquality and flavor.

This new variety was developed at the Washington State University'sIrrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (I.A.R.E.C.) atProsser, Washington. It was selected from among fourteen (14) seedlingsof the variety Stella (unpatented variety)×unknown and was tested as PC7222-1. Second generation test trees were planted on the Roza Unit ofthe Center in the spring of 1979 and came into production in 1983.

The new sweet cherry variety ripens 5-6 days before Bing (popularunpatented commercial variety). It is self-fertile, blooms 2-3 daysbefore Bing and is pollen compatible with Bing.

The new cherry variety resembles Bing in shape and appearance. The treeshave been consistently productive, bearing fruits comparable in size andas firm as Bing. The fruits are Bing-shaped, glossy and attractive whenmature and possess good cracking tolerance.

Fruit stems are medium length, similar to those of Bing. Fruit shape isbroadly cordate and the flesh, which colors slowly, is light to mediumred.

Fruit buds of PC 7222-1 have greater winter hardiness than Bing asdemonstrated by winter freezes at the test site near Prosser in December1990 and February 1996.

The tree is vigorous and spreading in shape and has proven to be a veryprecocious and fruitful bearer of early to mid-season high qualitycherries.

Soluble solids are equal to or slightly more than Bing when comparingfruits of equal maturity and fruit kept in cold storage at 33°-34° F.for four weeks stored equal to Bing fruits.

The seeds are semi-freestone and small. All second and third generationtest trees observed closely have shown no tendency toward the "CherryCrinkle-leaf" genetic disorder which is common in Bing, as well as inseveral other varieties of sweet cherry.

Interest in this new variety is for a firm, high quality shippingvariety for the early season market. The present new variety fills thegap between the early maturing Chelan variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8545)and the popular commercially grown Bing variety. The present varietyfits into this gap period very well, maturing about five days afterChelan and about 5-6 days ahead of Bing.

Trees of the subject variety are vigorous and, following several yearsof testing, have proven compatible with all common rootstocks used undersweet cherry trees.

Asexual reproduction of this new and distinct variety shows that itsdesirable characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding propagations by grafting at the testfacilities near Prosser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying photographs, vegetative growth, fruit and seeds areshown in color as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make in colorphotographs of this nature.

FIG. 1 shows and compares the maturity of fruit picked from trees of thesubject variety, PC 7144-3 (unnamed), PC 7146-23 (Chelan) and Bing. Thetrees were planted in adjacent rows in a test orchard near Wapato, Wash.

FIG. 2 compares size and shape of mature PC 7222-1 and Bing fruits.

FIG. 3 shows size of mature PC 7222-1 fruits (all cherries pictured are10 row or larger).

FIG. 4 shows PC 7222-1 fruits with seeds exposed and light-red fleshcolor.

FIG. 5 shows current-season vegetative growth and leaves of the subjectvariety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following is a detailed description of the new variety of cherry treewith color terminology in accordance with the Munsell Color Cascadechart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Tree:

Size.--Large.

Vigor.--Vigorous.

Branching habit.--Upright-spreading.

Density.--Average for sweet cherry.

Form.--Round-headed when mature.

Hardiness.--Hardy in area where tested (lower Yakima Valley ofWashington).

Production.--Very productive.

Bearing.--Consistent, regular.

Trunk.--Size: Stocky. Bark texture: Typical for sweet cherry. Barkcolor: Grey-brown (26-13). Lenticels: Numerous, medium 3.2-5.4 mm indiameter, brown.

Branch.--Size: Stocky. Texture: Average, typical for sweet cherry.Color: First year wood: greenish-brown (32-10); second year wood:grey-brown (24-12). Lenticels: Numerous, small, 1.5-2.1 mm in diameter,brown.

Leaves.--Measurements are from mature leaves attached at midpoint ofactively growing upright shoots of current season's growth. Size: Large,16-17 cm long, 8.5-9 cm wide. Form: Lanceolate with acuminate tip.Color: Upper surface: glossy-green (20-12), lower surface: light-green(17-10). Midvein: Medium, light-red (40-11), 1.5 mm in diameter.Petiole: Medium, 4.5 cm long, thick 2.3 mm, light-green to pink withdarker red tinge along petiole groove. Texture: Smooth. Margin: Crenateto finely serrate. Glands: Variable in number but mostly two,compressed, positioned both alternate and irregular, medium, oval toreniform shape, shiny with slightly reddish center when immature, darkerred (38-12) when mature, glabrous, positioned on rim of petiole groove4-7 mm from base of leaf petiole. Stipules: Small, usually two 1.2-1.8cm in length, light-green (18-8).

Flower buds.--Hardiness: Hardy. Size: Medium. Length: Medium. Form:Plump, conic, free.

Flowers.--Self-fertile. First bloom: April 5 at Prosser test site(10-year average), early when compared with other varieties. Full bloom:April 12 at Prosser test site. Size: Medium large, 24-30 mm in diameterwhen fully open. Color: White. Bloom count: Abundant, 5-8 per spurcluster. Petals: Average, 18-20 mm in length and 14-15 mm in width,obovate, cupped slightly inward, white. Nectaries: Light-green whenmature (22-7). Anthers: Large, yellow (27-4). Pollen: Abundant, yellow(27-6). Pedicel: Medium length 13-15 mm, light-green (23-6).

Fruit.--Maturity: Eating ripe June 11 at Prosser test site (9 yearaverage). Date of first picking: June 11 at Prosser. Date of lastpicking: June 19 at Prosser. Size: Large, 9.1-9.5 grams, diametertransversely across suture 2.7-2.9 cm, diameter apically 2.4-2.5 cm.Form: Uniform, symmetrical, broadly cordate, rounded apex end. Suture:Very shallow, very slight darker mahogany-colored line extends from baseto apex. Stem cavity: Broad, rounded shoulders, shallow. Base: Rounded.Apex: Rounded, pistil point apical and distinctive with very small whitedot. Stem: Medium thick, variable 3.5-3.9 cm in length, light-green(21-8). Skin: Thickness: Medium. Texture: Medium. Tenacity: Tenacious toflesh. Tendency to crack: Susceptible to cracking caused by prolongedrains but more tolerant than Bing, none in dry season. Down: Wanting.Color: Mahogany-red (41-15). Flesh: Color: Red (39-9). Surface of pitcavity: Red (38-11). Texture: Very firm, crisp. Fibers: Few, creamcolor, fine. Ripens: Very evenly. Flavor: Sweet, low acid. Juice:Light-red (39-8). Aroma: Slight. Eating quality: Very good.

Stone.--Type: Semi-free. Size: Small, 1.2-1.3 cm long, 0.9 cm wide.Form: Oval with small protruding wing along basal shoulder of ventralsuture. Base: Rounded. Helium: Small, oval to slightly oblong. Apex:Rounded. Sides: Equal. Surface: Smooth. Ventral edge: Narrow suturesubtended by two low ridges converging basally and apically. Dorsaledge: Narrow, smooth, narrow ridge from base to apex. Color:Tannish-white when dry. Tendency to split: None.

Use: Early season shipping, fresh market.

Keeping quality: Good.

Resistance to insects and diseases: Susceptible to Bacterial Canker(Pseudomonas), no Cherry Crinkle-leaf noted.

Shipping quality: Firm, excellent, at least as good as Bing.

Variance in botanical details: The cherry tree and its fruit hereindescribed will vary due to climatic, soil and growing conditions underwhich it may be grown. The present description being of the variety asgrown in the Lower Yakima Valley of Washington. Comparisons to the Bingvariety are referenced to Bing cherry trees growing in the same areaunder similar circumstances.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cherry tree obtained as aseedling of Stella (unpatented)×unknown is a self-fertile varietycharacterized by its early maturing, large, firm fruits that are similarin shape and appearance to the fruits of the Bing variety, but ripen 5-6days earlier and show no tendency toward Cherry Crinkle-leaf disorder,and by its improved winter hardiness.